Cutbacks making rural GP practices ‘unviable’

More rural and deprived urban areas will be left without doctors in the coming years because Government cutbacks are making GP practices unviable, the Irish Medical Organisation has warned.

Cuts of 38% in the medical card scheme allowances have slashed resources to general practice by more than €160m, said the IMO.

There are vacancies in upwards of 30 areas, the latest being in Ballyheigue, Co Kerry, where there have been no applications for a post from which a doctor is retiring and emigrating to Britain .